8:30 AM: I shall have to accept that my life's just busier lately. With all the lesson planning I do, plus running immediately after school, then (usually) studying Korean, it doesn't leave as much time for writing as it used to.
Daesung called last night. We sorta-talked for 3 minutes, like usual. Becky and me went to the orphanage last Saturday, but they had sent all their kids off to Taekwondo class and so we had no one to teach. We rescheduled for not this Sunday but next Sunday. I told him I'd bring him a present of chocolate.
C-Yooseok just popped into the office right now to whisper a request for what I thought was "cho-co-lit". He was actually saying "jeo-ka-rak" or chopsticks. So I found him a disposable pair from our office ramen stash. I hope he's going to use them to eat breakfast, not to stab anybody.
Gave Leader Jaehoon my phone number yesterday. After class he said, "Teacher! Do you have Facebook?" No one had asked me that question before, so I just stared at him, stricken dumb by the horrific notion of friending my students on Facebook. He took my silent terror as an admission of guilt and said cheerily, "Me too! Teacher, add me. Add me." I told him we could use Kakao instead. Bullet dodged.
It's interesting that a phone number feels less personal than Facebook friending, but I only post on Facebook once a week and when I do, it's nearly always about the students. I don't even use Facebook for family or friends back home--it's strictly a social tool for acquaintances in Korea, so I can keep track of events and dinners and invitations. I post something cute once a week so people know I'm still alive, but that's it.
Saw Yeonghyo this morning! I was walking to school a little earlier than usual, at the time when more high school students are on the street, and I passed a couple of big high school kids. Then I heard a voice behind me say, "Leigh!" I turned around it was Yeonghyo, looking older and with longer hair than when I last saw him in February. I beamed and fussed over how good it was to see him again, and he told me that high school is horrible, which I expected. So good to see my former boy, the one who reached out to me and got the UNO games started.
Slow-jogged for 10 minutes yesterday. That's high endurance for me. I fully expect to be ready for a 5K by the end of June. Slow and steady gets the job done!
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10 AM: In the break between classes, a pack of boys came by to practice English. Heonmin (one of KBR's favorites), little Byeongji who I got to talk to yesterday but who I rarely see since he dropped to B-class, Puppy-Joonhyuk (so called because yesterday he was walking with Yeongjoon, who said Joonhyuk was his puppy before "selling" Joonhyuk to me because I had no pets), Youngmin (funny guy, tried to scare me with a 3-inch-long stag beetle on Monday), Face-Yoonjae (who is getting more interested in English lately), precious Joonwoo (polite, thoughtful, rarely see him these days) and my Wooseok, who will speak for trail mix and trail mix alone.
We had some great convos. I asked about their siblings and their dads' jobs--most common answer was 'businessman' but Wooseok's dad drives a bus.
The boys gathered around and Puppy-Joonhyuk wanted to know the word for their race of people. One non-offensive word for white person is "baek-in" so he wanted to know "hwang-in" (orange person) in English, but I told him they were called "asian". Chinese, Japanese, and Korean people are all Asian. Byeongji, Heongmin, Yoonjae and Joonhyuk all repeated "Asian..." like it was a big revelation. Byeongji wanted to know if Vietnamese people were also Asian and I said they were.
Yesterday, Face-Yoonjae hung around while I was talking to BY and he asked what we were talking about. Yoonjae has English that's a step above a lot of the other A-levels, but he still can't follow a full conversation. That was one of the first times I've heard a student actually ask "what were you talking about?" because sometimes they'll express envy of the high-English kids, but won't actually inquire into was was said. BY explained that we'd been discussing my plans for my afterschool kids, plans which involved feeding them chips. He'd been negotiating for me to feed the 3rd-graders as well.
--------------------------------
2 PM: Classes were good! 1st grade babies were doll-doll-dolls and the 3rd-graders were sly and funny. Minhwe tried to wiggle out of doing any work, as did Jinseo and Joonseok, but we got through things. Gyuchan was in fine form and he even hid in the corridor after class so he could scare me when I was locking up--except I saw him hiding and was waiting for it. Gyuchan's bigger than me, so stealth isn't his strong suit.
Lunchtime Games were great! I was a little late because me and the other female teachers went to walk over to the boys' high school and sit in their picturesque garden (our middle school is decidedly lacking in the ambient and picturesque categories). The high schoolers gawked at us from the windows and started shouting questions in English. Their native teacher is a guy, so they're not used to foreign women.
So since I was walking back later than usual, I ran across Deokryong! So he came upstairs with me. He wanted me to go to his homeroom, Gu-ban (9), but I insisted that we go to Sa-ban (4) because I was not throwing one more classroom into the mix after the Sam-ban (3) trouble on Tuesday.
It was so nice to have Deokryong in there with us. I've missed him so much. And there's a new student--Jiwoo--who is C-level and is very nice to me. We did Jenga with Hyunwoo and Jaewon, and A-level student who was in the Saturday English program last year. We had fun, and soon Myeongbae-n-Jiwoong came in.
I told Myeongbae-n-Jiwoong yesterday that they had earned chocolate but that they should redeem it today because I'd run out and needed to restock the supplies. So they followed me downstairs and got their treats, along with Deokryong and Jeongmin. And get this--the 5 of us sang "Let It Go" all the way down the stairs! Myeongbae and Deokryong love that musical and were more than excited to sing it all together. That was a special moment.
Upstairs, Deokryong had asked Afro-Jiwoong in Korean, "Don't you think Sem and Elsa are similar?" Jiwoong replied, "Not similar--exactly the same." That was cute because they didn't know I could understand them.
Downstiars, Myeongbae and Jiwoong wanted extra chocolate and they were willing to converse for it. They sat down on the stool without my asking them to and looked very excited to hear their English questions. Whether or not it started out that way, I have stumbled on something that makes kids eager to hear and respond to English questions. How fun!
And the older boys do the same. Duyeol rolled in this morning, sat on the stool and said, "Teacherrrr. Mission, please!" Meaning that the sentences I pose to them are their "mission" which they must complete to get the reward. Daww. Youngmin was so confident in his English skills, he came back for a second roundof questioning. Youngmin's definitely my boy now because he goes out of his way to greet and joke with me at every turn. At lunch, I caught his eye and he stuck out his tongue! But he's so funny, you have to appreciate it. I don't feel the slightest inkling of disrespect; such is Youngmin's charm.
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8:30 PM: It was raining on the way home from school, and Donggu rode his bike alongside me so I could hold the umbrella over both of us. I didn't even invite him--he just silently drove his bike under my umbrella, knowing I'd hold it over both of us. Sweet.
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Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
4-16-14 Joonsung Sweetness, Territorialism, and Hyo
11 AM: Am so very tired. I took up running as a hobby because all my friends are runners, and it's got me worn out a bit. I can tell this is going to help my future health, fitness and energy, though.
First classes had good moments. lots of boys really trying to work on their stories. Tiring because of all the one-on-one time, though. But I'm cementing relationships with a lot of the kids like Sleepy Moonshik and Daehwan-n-Yechan and Hyungu-n-Chanwook, etc.
And I modified each lesson 3 more times, getting easier and clearer each time.
Yesterday, Joonsung came by to use my computer like he always does, but I was so busy fixing lessons, I couldn't address him. I kept telling him no in Korean, telling him to wait, that I needed my computer. He stood over me and kept talking to me while I basically ignored him. I had 10 minutes to alter a lesson before giving it to a fresh batch of 2nd-graders.
So when I wouldn't look up at him, Joonsung placed his hands on either side of my face and gently turned my head toward him. When I looked up, he was smiling patiently. And I realized that this must be the way his caretakers get his attention when he's ignoring them. I smiled and had to keep working, but I finished early and let him use the computer.
That was yesterday. He came by again this morning and I let him use the computer then, too.
Yesterday, I had it confirmed that I'm the source of a territory war between Jeongmin and Hyunho. For the Lunchtime Games, Hyunho came by to get me instead of Jeongmin. It didn't matter to me which kid picked me up from the office--the point, to me, is that I get to go be with the students and see them having fun while maybe hearing a little about that day.
But Hyunho decided we should play in class 2-3 instead of 2-4...his homeroom, not Jeongmin's. In hindsight, it was also probably a calculated move to make it harder for Jeongmin to find us. Because Jeongmin didn't show up until there were only about 5 minutes of lunchtime left.
I asked where he'd been and he said, "Outside, searching for you." He looked so hurt that I felt guilty, and I hadn't even done anything. I asked him to stay and play Jenga, but he waved a paper in his hand and said, "I have to do this homework by tomorrow." He gestured to the other kids playing Jenga and said, "They have to do it too, but they're playing..." It was like the good son, get nothing while the prodigals have a grand time. I told him that in the future, I'd leave him a note if I went upstairs before he found me.
Why does Hyunho have to be so sneaky about this stuff? He knew I wouldn't know what was going on and that I wouldn't care which student found me first, but that Jeongmin would care. Hyo also coudln't find me and asked me in class, "Teacher, lunchtime, where? Not see." Hyo was really disappointed that he didn't get his lunchtime discussion in. Eek, one misstep in regard to where you'll be and at what time, and you've got massively letdown students. I must start leaving notes. I must!
But I also heard form Mr. B that Hyunho's been having behavioral problems at home, like tantrums and breaking things? Last week he was out of school and I thought he was on vacation, but his mom had pulled him out of school, either for treatment or discipline. He's always been intelligent and sweet and good for me, but I know he's been less smiley and much louder/more aggressive this semester (and sneakier, too). I'll pray for him.
--------------------------
3 PM: Lunchtime Games were good! Jeongmin has told me he couldn't come today and said I should go on with Hyunho, but later when I did go with Hyunho, Jeongmin was upstairs waiting. So anyways, I had Lunchtime Games with everybody pertinent--Jeongmin, Hyunho, AND Hyo.
This morning Hyo rode his bike beside me on the way to school for several minutes. We talked about his family in Incheon, where he often visits. He wanted to make sure that he didn't miss me today at lunch. At lunch games we didn't really get to talk, but I did save him from being sat upon by Hyunho. Hyunho is small but strong, but Hyo is just small, so it was still too much for him, so I gave Hyunho half my chair.
Hyunho and Jeongmin seemed to be getting along, but Hyunho did say something rude to Jeongmin. Hyunho told him to "stop being cute in front of Sem because it disgusts me". Once I figured out what he was saying, I told him that Jeongmin wasn't begin cutesy, he was just being nice and I liked his behavior. Hyunho just kept saying, "Maybe Sem likes it, but it still makes me disgusted so cut it out."
Gyuseong did the same thing later, saying I shouldn't pay attention to Jeongmin. Then Jeongmin and Hyunho teamed up to pin Gyuseong to the floor and twist his arms into uncomfortable shapes, whereupon I made them stop... I just don't know. People say girls are weird, but girls have nothing on this folderol. I can't keep track of who's mad at who, who's playing power games for frivolous reasons, and who's just a silly kid having fun.
I do know that Hyo told me he'd been crying this morning. He couldn't tell me why, but I told him to come to my office when he's in trouble.
-----------------------------------------------
First classes had good moments. lots of boys really trying to work on their stories. Tiring because of all the one-on-one time, though. But I'm cementing relationships with a lot of the kids like Sleepy Moonshik and Daehwan-n-Yechan and Hyungu-n-Chanwook, etc.
And I modified each lesson 3 more times, getting easier and clearer each time.
Yesterday, Joonsung came by to use my computer like he always does, but I was so busy fixing lessons, I couldn't address him. I kept telling him no in Korean, telling him to wait, that I needed my computer. He stood over me and kept talking to me while I basically ignored him. I had 10 minutes to alter a lesson before giving it to a fresh batch of 2nd-graders.
So when I wouldn't look up at him, Joonsung placed his hands on either side of my face and gently turned my head toward him. When I looked up, he was smiling patiently. And I realized that this must be the way his caretakers get his attention when he's ignoring them. I smiled and had to keep working, but I finished early and let him use the computer.
That was yesterday. He came by again this morning and I let him use the computer then, too.
Yesterday, I had it confirmed that I'm the source of a territory war between Jeongmin and Hyunho. For the Lunchtime Games, Hyunho came by to get me instead of Jeongmin. It didn't matter to me which kid picked me up from the office--the point, to me, is that I get to go be with the students and see them having fun while maybe hearing a little about that day.
But Hyunho decided we should play in class 2-3 instead of 2-4...his homeroom, not Jeongmin's. In hindsight, it was also probably a calculated move to make it harder for Jeongmin to find us. Because Jeongmin didn't show up until there were only about 5 minutes of lunchtime left.
I asked where he'd been and he said, "Outside, searching for you." He looked so hurt that I felt guilty, and I hadn't even done anything. I asked him to stay and play Jenga, but he waved a paper in his hand and said, "I have to do this homework by tomorrow." He gestured to the other kids playing Jenga and said, "They have to do it too, but they're playing..." It was like the good son, get nothing while the prodigals have a grand time. I told him that in the future, I'd leave him a note if I went upstairs before he found me.
Why does Hyunho have to be so sneaky about this stuff? He knew I wouldn't know what was going on and that I wouldn't care which student found me first, but that Jeongmin would care. Hyo also coudln't find me and asked me in class, "Teacher, lunchtime, where? Not see." Hyo was really disappointed that he didn't get his lunchtime discussion in. Eek, one misstep in regard to where you'll be and at what time, and you've got massively letdown students. I must start leaving notes. I must!
But I also heard form Mr. B that Hyunho's been having behavioral problems at home, like tantrums and breaking things? Last week he was out of school and I thought he was on vacation, but his mom had pulled him out of school, either for treatment or discipline. He's always been intelligent and sweet and good for me, but I know he's been less smiley and much louder/more aggressive this semester (and sneakier, too). I'll pray for him.
--------------------------
3 PM: Lunchtime Games were good! Jeongmin has told me he couldn't come today and said I should go on with Hyunho, but later when I did go with Hyunho, Jeongmin was upstairs waiting. So anyways, I had Lunchtime Games with everybody pertinent--Jeongmin, Hyunho, AND Hyo.
This morning Hyo rode his bike beside me on the way to school for several minutes. We talked about his family in Incheon, where he often visits. He wanted to make sure that he didn't miss me today at lunch. At lunch games we didn't really get to talk, but I did save him from being sat upon by Hyunho. Hyunho is small but strong, but Hyo is just small, so it was still too much for him, so I gave Hyunho half my chair.
Hyunho and Jeongmin seemed to be getting along, but Hyunho did say something rude to Jeongmin. Hyunho told him to "stop being cute in front of Sem because it disgusts me". Once I figured out what he was saying, I told him that Jeongmin wasn't begin cutesy, he was just being nice and I liked his behavior. Hyunho just kept saying, "Maybe Sem likes it, but it still makes me disgusted so cut it out."
Gyuseong did the same thing later, saying I shouldn't pay attention to Jeongmin. Then Jeongmin and Hyunho teamed up to pin Gyuseong to the floor and twist his arms into uncomfortable shapes, whereupon I made them stop... I just don't know. People say girls are weird, but girls have nothing on this folderol. I can't keep track of who's mad at who, who's playing power games for frivolous reasons, and who's just a silly kid having fun.
I do know that Hyo told me he'd been crying this morning. He couldn't tell me why, but I told him to come to my office when he's in trouble.
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Monday, April 14, 2014
4-15-14 All the Hugs, Rude Jiyoon, and Quiet Minjong
11 AM: Yesterday was just so jam-crammed with stuff to do, I couldn't write much.
But classes passed okay. My 1st-grade class was amazing and I gave them all goodbye hugs when they left class, because they requested it. I was holding my English textbook to myself, so we had a bit of a barrier there. Even so, Jaeyeong got back in line four times. After 3 hugs, I told him to just leave or he'd be late for his next class.
Afterschool went okay. We did a zombie activity from the 2nd grade classes, but Jiyoon was acting up so bad I had to take him out in the hall. When I called his name he had said in quick succession, "What, man? Hey baby? What, woman? What, grandmother?" He was trying to be rude and I was ready to take him down to the 1st-floor office, but he begged and we just stood and talked for a few minutes. I told him that he was a smart and funny boy. But that he could be a better person. Don't know if he understood, but we didn't have any more rudeness.
This morning, Quiet Minjong got some work done when I addressed it with him, solo-style. I was so proud and I had him come to the office for chocolate because Minjong more than other kids seems...tragic? I don't know if he's just a quiet kid with a somber expression, but even when I taught him last year, I'd catch him staring at the wall, looking burdened. Everybody gets tired and everybody gets bored, but Minjong's a different level, and his smiles are rare, so I was glad to talk with him and tell him I was proud.
Soonwoo and Yeonghan did great work, getting into deep and thoughtful discussions about their choices. GOSH. They talked about stuff and argued their points with me. I could have pinched their squishy, beautiful cheeks. Hyunho was also a master of writing thoughtful things. My boy in unstoppable in English class.
And Hyunseop, a cutie pie with a few broken fingers due to some unknown accident, together with Donggu, a budding comedian who had seemed humorless last year, did some great stuff. They even wrote "Leigh Teacher" as one of the characters they'd take with them on the boat if zombies attacked.
---------------------------------
But classes passed okay. My 1st-grade class was amazing and I gave them all goodbye hugs when they left class, because they requested it. I was holding my English textbook to myself, so we had a bit of a barrier there. Even so, Jaeyeong got back in line four times. After 3 hugs, I told him to just leave or he'd be late for his next class.
Afterschool went okay. We did a zombie activity from the 2nd grade classes, but Jiyoon was acting up so bad I had to take him out in the hall. When I called his name he had said in quick succession, "What, man? Hey baby? What, woman? What, grandmother?" He was trying to be rude and I was ready to take him down to the 1st-floor office, but he begged and we just stood and talked for a few minutes. I told him that he was a smart and funny boy. But that he could be a better person. Don't know if he understood, but we didn't have any more rudeness.
This morning, Quiet Minjong got some work done when I addressed it with him, solo-style. I was so proud and I had him come to the office for chocolate because Minjong more than other kids seems...tragic? I don't know if he's just a quiet kid with a somber expression, but even when I taught him last year, I'd catch him staring at the wall, looking burdened. Everybody gets tired and everybody gets bored, but Minjong's a different level, and his smiles are rare, so I was glad to talk with him and tell him I was proud.
Soonwoo and Yeonghan did great work, getting into deep and thoughtful discussions about their choices. GOSH. They talked about stuff and argued their points with me. I could have pinched their squishy, beautiful cheeks. Hyunho was also a master of writing thoughtful things. My boy in unstoppable in English class.
And Hyunseop, a cutie pie with a few broken fingers due to some unknown accident, together with Donggu, a budding comedian who had seemed humorless last year, did some great stuff. They even wrote "Leigh Teacher" as one of the characters they'd take with them on the boat if zombies attacked.
---------------------------------
Sunday, April 13, 2014
4-14-13 Ambitious Soonhyuk, Choosing to Smile, and Yoonseokness
10 AM: First class went well, but instead of having too much time to complete the activity, we had not enough. It was a zombie activity, and their writing was great but we spent so much time coming up with stories, we didn't have time to play the game at the end!
Still, I got to hear lovely thoughtful things from several of the boys. Geon used to be C-ban, but he moved up to B and he's got a likable personality. Geonghong is a natural leader--I got to watch him steering the other kids toward the outcome he wanted. Tiny Yongmoon joked with me, though I didn't always understand.
Yeonwoo was cleverer than most, and Joonhyuk is a precious kid with virtually no English. Sanghyeop decribed his job during the zombie apocalypse as being "Sanghyeop". We laughed and had good time.
The only downside for me was Soonhyuk's sad feelings. Soonhyuk's my boy, and he feels trapped in B-ban. He kept writing on his paper, "I'm A-ban. I"m A. I'm A-ban". And I spent less time with him than with the other boys because he had everything done already and didn't need to be guided.
When I finally came around to Soonhyuk, he had walked over to the window to stare morosely out of it. I couldn't blame him. He was left alone with nothing to do for 10 minutes while me and SG2 helped the other kids. But what can I do? If the other kids don't get one-on-one time, they can't figure out their activities despite me adapting the activities to be as simple as possible and including a lot of Korean words.
Anyhoo, I told Soonhyuk's partner Jeongkyo to come by for chocolate later (because they had done great art and great sentences), but I couldn't find Soonhyuk to tell him to come. I even went back up the stairs to look for him, Reeses in hand, with no results. Poor baby. I know you're bored. I know you're stuck in an uninspiring class level and you want to be recognized for better things because you're just so bright you could light up a room if given the chance. You'll get it, Soonhyuk. You'll eventually get where you need to go. And before that, I'll get your Reeses to you.
Yeonghan met me in the hall and pleasantly told me that we had class together next. I look forward to that. 2-3, 2-4 are grand kids, one and all. I like them lots.
A perky C-level 2nd-grader came by with Jeongkyo and wanted chocolate, in exchange for conversation. His name is Gangmin and I know him from Lunchtime Games. He doesn't play, but he buzzes around the room, pausing occasionally to loudly ask me to save him from imagined violence or to assure me that he likes ladies (they feel the need to inform me of this from time to time). Gangmin seemed like a fun student, so I was glad to talk with him and find out that he's a soccer goalie, etc.
SG2 told me she was at school all weekend, doing paperwork. Suddenly my weekends full of hours (5-6 hours on Saturday, 5-6 on Sunday?) of lesson planning in cool, ambient coffeeshops don't seem so arduous.
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11:40 AM: YESSSS class went well! And not because my activity succeeded--because I loved the kids.
I was with NG-Teacher, and I felt like we were both happier. This weekend, I watched a TED Talk (educational video) about the scientific power of smiling and decided to weld that to my faith in God. I practiced smiling on my own, so I found it easier to smile in front of people today. Being joyful is a form of worship because it's showing thankfulness/gratefulness to God.
I smiled in class,to the kids and to myself and I felt so much happier. I had 10 totally invested kids and 12 sleepers/wanderers/doodlers who could not be brought to do anything. But that was okay! I was happy with any of the little guys I got to work with, period. They were wonderful.
Hyunho, Yeonghyun, Kibeom, and Sangpil won the challenge (we actually got to play this time), but I made sure to get Yeonghan, Dongha, and Kyeongwon to follow me for chocolate as well--they put in a world of effort, truly.
In short, I feel pretty buoyant. I don't have to have perfect classes where everyone participates. I just have to work hard and adore the ones I have, whether they're working or not.
Saw Itaewon-Sungmin in the office. He always greets me so kindly. The B-level 3rd grade boys often seem to want to reconnect, now that I don't teach them anymore. Talked with Duyeol, gave him candy after hearing when he woke up and how he doesn't remember what he ate for breakfast.
Jaehyung surprised me in the hall. I was talking to O-Teacher when he walked up and just sort of stood right on me without stepping on my feet. I was so shocked, it made O-Teacher laugh.
Normally, the students can't surprise me. If you work in a boys' school, you expect the unexpected. They will run around corners and narrowly miss bowling you over, they will jump out of nowhere, they will be sitting and standing and sliding on things they should not be sit-stand-or-sliding on. I walk down the hall like a creature with all its nerves removed. I am unbotherable!
Except by Jaehyung. And by C-Jeongmin, who grabbed my arm and made me jump just minutes after Jaehyung did. I'm not getting jumpier--they're just leveling up their surprise quotient.
And! Gyuseong from Lunchtime Games! My darling Gyuseong who can't hardly speak English is...A-ban. I just assumed that he was C level since I didn't teach him and he couldn't really speak to me but nope. I saw him walking back from the English Center and asked him what level he was, and it's A. What a shock.
Additionally, A-Yoonseok says that C-Yoonseok is not a Yoonseok at all but a Yooseok. But C-Yoonseok (maybe Yooseok) has not yet been consulted about the status of his Yoonseok-ness (maybe Yooseok-ness), but I will ask him later. Kindly tell me who you really are, sir. One is either a Yoo or a Yoon. Sides must be chosen.
----------------
Still, I got to hear lovely thoughtful things from several of the boys. Geon used to be C-ban, but he moved up to B and he's got a likable personality. Geonghong is a natural leader--I got to watch him steering the other kids toward the outcome he wanted. Tiny Yongmoon joked with me, though I didn't always understand.
Yeonwoo was cleverer than most, and Joonhyuk is a precious kid with virtually no English. Sanghyeop decribed his job during the zombie apocalypse as being "Sanghyeop". We laughed and had good time.
The only downside for me was Soonhyuk's sad feelings. Soonhyuk's my boy, and he feels trapped in B-ban. He kept writing on his paper, "I'm A-ban. I"m A. I'm A-ban". And I spent less time with him than with the other boys because he had everything done already and didn't need to be guided.
When I finally came around to Soonhyuk, he had walked over to the window to stare morosely out of it. I couldn't blame him. He was left alone with nothing to do for 10 minutes while me and SG2 helped the other kids. But what can I do? If the other kids don't get one-on-one time, they can't figure out their activities despite me adapting the activities to be as simple as possible and including a lot of Korean words.
Anyhoo, I told Soonhyuk's partner Jeongkyo to come by for chocolate later (because they had done great art and great sentences), but I couldn't find Soonhyuk to tell him to come. I even went back up the stairs to look for him, Reeses in hand, with no results. Poor baby. I know you're bored. I know you're stuck in an uninspiring class level and you want to be recognized for better things because you're just so bright you could light up a room if given the chance. You'll get it, Soonhyuk. You'll eventually get where you need to go. And before that, I'll get your Reeses to you.
Yeonghan met me in the hall and pleasantly told me that we had class together next. I look forward to that. 2-3, 2-4 are grand kids, one and all. I like them lots.
A perky C-level 2nd-grader came by with Jeongkyo and wanted chocolate, in exchange for conversation. His name is Gangmin and I know him from Lunchtime Games. He doesn't play, but he buzzes around the room, pausing occasionally to loudly ask me to save him from imagined violence or to assure me that he likes ladies (they feel the need to inform me of this from time to time). Gangmin seemed like a fun student, so I was glad to talk with him and find out that he's a soccer goalie, etc.
SG2 told me she was at school all weekend, doing paperwork. Suddenly my weekends full of hours (5-6 hours on Saturday, 5-6 on Sunday?) of lesson planning in cool, ambient coffeeshops don't seem so arduous.
--------------------------------------------------------------
11:40 AM: YESSSS class went well! And not because my activity succeeded--because I loved the kids.
I was with NG-Teacher, and I felt like we were both happier. This weekend, I watched a TED Talk (educational video) about the scientific power of smiling and decided to weld that to my faith in God. I practiced smiling on my own, so I found it easier to smile in front of people today. Being joyful is a form of worship because it's showing thankfulness/gratefulness to God.
I smiled in class,to the kids and to myself and I felt so much happier. I had 10 totally invested kids and 12 sleepers/wanderers/doodlers who could not be brought to do anything. But that was okay! I was happy with any of the little guys I got to work with, period. They were wonderful.
Hyunho, Yeonghyun, Kibeom, and Sangpil won the challenge (we actually got to play this time), but I made sure to get Yeonghan, Dongha, and Kyeongwon to follow me for chocolate as well--they put in a world of effort, truly.
In short, I feel pretty buoyant. I don't have to have perfect classes where everyone participates. I just have to work hard and adore the ones I have, whether they're working or not.
Saw Itaewon-Sungmin in the office. He always greets me so kindly. The B-level 3rd grade boys often seem to want to reconnect, now that I don't teach them anymore. Talked with Duyeol, gave him candy after hearing when he woke up and how he doesn't remember what he ate for breakfast.
Jaehyung surprised me in the hall. I was talking to O-Teacher when he walked up and just sort of stood right on me without stepping on my feet. I was so shocked, it made O-Teacher laugh.
Normally, the students can't surprise me. If you work in a boys' school, you expect the unexpected. They will run around corners and narrowly miss bowling you over, they will jump out of nowhere, they will be sitting and standing and sliding on things they should not be sit-stand-or-sliding on. I walk down the hall like a creature with all its nerves removed. I am unbotherable!
Except by Jaehyung. And by C-Jeongmin, who grabbed my arm and made me jump just minutes after Jaehyung did. I'm not getting jumpier--they're just leveling up their surprise quotient.
And! Gyuseong from Lunchtime Games! My darling Gyuseong who can't hardly speak English is...A-ban. I just assumed that he was C level since I didn't teach him and he couldn't really speak to me but nope. I saw him walking back from the English Center and asked him what level he was, and it's A. What a shock.
Additionally, A-Yoonseok says that C-Yoonseok is not a Yoonseok at all but a Yooseok. But C-Yoonseok (maybe Yooseok) has not yet been consulted about the status of his Yoonseok-ness (maybe Yooseok-ness), but I will ask him later. Kindly tell me who you really are, sir. One is either a Yoo or a Yoon. Sides must be chosen.
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Thursday, April 10, 2014
4-11-14 Good 2nd-Graders, Language Compliments, and Jeongmook
11 AM: Good day!
My first class of 2nd-graders was amazing. I was with H-Sol Teacher, and the boys in 2-7, 2-8 actually responded! They said words! I had to be realllly patient with them, but once I stopped being mentally huffy and wanting to rush through, they actually had time to formulate some answers to the game.
I was quite happy. And they were quite happy. I gained a new favorite--English-Hyunseo who says he actually enjoys English. He was very clever and I liked him.
And that was nothing compared to Governor Yunho and crew. My favorite little flirt and his co-horts were hilarious in both their drawings and their commentary on the drawings. Yunho insisted he should win a prize because his comic was "Neomu utgyeoyo" or "incredibly funny" and therefore should be dubbed the best. Him and Gicheol and Taehoon and Hyunshik were a barrel of laughs and I loved talking to them.
In 3rd grade, the boys were funny and amazing, and Yeongjoon really shone. He figured out some answers before Byeonghyun, which was really stunning. He sat in the front row with Byeonghyun and BY and informed me that they were the "A-line". The best students were in the front this time.
We had a nice class. KBR was great with the kids, though she told me that she's getting tireder and tireder of the actual doing of teaching lately. I told her that I know the feeling, though I also said I had a really good morning with my 2nd-graders.
Beautiful Face-Yoonjae's hair is going gray. The other kids are trying to pull it out, strand by strand. He's fifteen. I didn't know hair went gray that early.
Minhwe came by to get his chocolate. We chatted about his morning and he was a delight, as always. Can't believe I didn't notice Minhwe last year. He's such a precious soul.
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2 PM: Yeah-iss, last class o' 2nd-graders before lunch went pretty well. NG-Teacher offered me a mike at one point and I said I was okay, then after a few minutes he set it up for me anyway. So I used it. He knows better than me on some issues. The game worked much better today with a little patience.
I met Yeongsu and Jonghoon in this class, adding them to the list of my boys. They were noisy, but I connected with several of them and it went well. Seongkyu is a real card and Giwoong is a total brain, who answered a million questions. It was a good time.
Then after lunch I went walking with H-Sol Teacher, which was very pleasant. She's a wonderful person and we get along well. She complimented my Korean ability, which made me happy.
I went to Lunchtime Games and spent a lot of time talking to Hyo, who thinks his weekend plans will be ruined by rain. Eungyo talked to me some also--he's quite loveable.
Soonhyuk and Governor Yunho came by for chocolate and we had a nice discussion. It'll be funny to me if the boys end up learning the past tense of English simply because I keep asking them what they did yesterday.
S-Teacher says that 1st grade classroom number 9 voted me the prettiest teacher in school. But my boys Hyunseo, Byeongil and Doyeong are in there, so I know they put it a good word for me.
Leader Jaehoon stopped to tell me that he used the colored folding paper I'd given him for his birthday and made cranes out of it. Sweet baby.
---------------------------------------------------
4:30 PM Last class o' 1st-graders was so nuts, I made them all put their heads down on their desks for half a minute. We had fun after that--they'd just escalated so far, I did not bring them down to zero before we could proceed. And they did great after that.
Little Jeongmook in the front row can't go 3 minutes without flirting. Grabbing my hand, saying "I love you", writing "I LOVE YOU" in all caps on his Bingo paper, saying "hug me please" in Korean--the flow of affection is nonstop from this one. He kicked it up a notch, too, adding, "Teacher. First kiss when? WHEN WAS. Who was it. WHO????" Translator-Jongmin joined in the questioning and I told them to mind their own business in Korean. But we ended up with a good class overall and several of them won chocolate.
My first class of 2nd-graders was amazing. I was with H-Sol Teacher, and the boys in 2-7, 2-8 actually responded! They said words! I had to be realllly patient with them, but once I stopped being mentally huffy and wanting to rush through, they actually had time to formulate some answers to the game.
I was quite happy. And they were quite happy. I gained a new favorite--English-Hyunseo who says he actually enjoys English. He was very clever and I liked him.
And that was nothing compared to Governor Yunho and crew. My favorite little flirt and his co-horts were hilarious in both their drawings and their commentary on the drawings. Yunho insisted he should win a prize because his comic was "Neomu utgyeoyo" or "incredibly funny" and therefore should be dubbed the best. Him and Gicheol and Taehoon and Hyunshik were a barrel of laughs and I loved talking to them.
In 3rd grade, the boys were funny and amazing, and Yeongjoon really shone. He figured out some answers before Byeonghyun, which was really stunning. He sat in the front row with Byeonghyun and BY and informed me that they were the "A-line". The best students were in the front this time.
We had a nice class. KBR was great with the kids, though she told me that she's getting tireder and tireder of the actual doing of teaching lately. I told her that I know the feeling, though I also said I had a really good morning with my 2nd-graders.
Beautiful Face-Yoonjae's hair is going gray. The other kids are trying to pull it out, strand by strand. He's fifteen. I didn't know hair went gray that early.
Minhwe came by to get his chocolate. We chatted about his morning and he was a delight, as always. Can't believe I didn't notice Minhwe last year. He's such a precious soul.
---------------------------------------------------
2 PM: Yeah-iss, last class o' 2nd-graders before lunch went pretty well. NG-Teacher offered me a mike at one point and I said I was okay, then after a few minutes he set it up for me anyway. So I used it. He knows better than me on some issues. The game worked much better today with a little patience.
I met Yeongsu and Jonghoon in this class, adding them to the list of my boys. They were noisy, but I connected with several of them and it went well. Seongkyu is a real card and Giwoong is a total brain, who answered a million questions. It was a good time.
Then after lunch I went walking with H-Sol Teacher, which was very pleasant. She's a wonderful person and we get along well. She complimented my Korean ability, which made me happy.
I went to Lunchtime Games and spent a lot of time talking to Hyo, who thinks his weekend plans will be ruined by rain. Eungyo talked to me some also--he's quite loveable.
Soonhyuk and Governor Yunho came by for chocolate and we had a nice discussion. It'll be funny to me if the boys end up learning the past tense of English simply because I keep asking them what they did yesterday.
S-Teacher says that 1st grade classroom number 9 voted me the prettiest teacher in school. But my boys Hyunseo, Byeongil and Doyeong are in there, so I know they put it a good word for me.
Leader Jaehoon stopped to tell me that he used the colored folding paper I'd given him for his birthday and made cranes out of it. Sweet baby.
---------------------------------------------------
4:30 PM Last class o' 1st-graders was so nuts, I made them all put their heads down on their desks for half a minute. We had fun after that--they'd just escalated so far, I did not bring them down to zero before we could proceed. And they did great after that.
Little Jeongmook in the front row can't go 3 minutes without flirting. Grabbing my hand, saying "I love you", writing "I LOVE YOU" in all caps on his Bingo paper, saying "hug me please" in Korean--the flow of affection is nonstop from this one. He kicked it up a notch, too, adding, "Teacher. First kiss when? WHEN WAS. Who was it. WHO????" Translator-Jongmin joined in the questioning and I told them to mind their own business in Korean. But we ended up with a good class overall and several of them won chocolate.
At lunchtime when H-Sol and I went walking outside the school gates, we were swarmed by a bunch of students hoping to accompany us outside and thus gain freedom. C-Yoonseok offered my his arm to escort me outside. He said to everyone else in English, "Teacher's friend. I am teacher-friend." I accepted his arm for a few seconds, before leaving him at the gate with Seungah and the rest.
Walked home part of the way with BY. We talked about how he sounds different in Korean than in English--his voice is much higher and quirkier in English. Turns out he speaks higher in English because his friends in America responded better to higher pitches than to lower ones. I feel like if he kept his English voice at the same register as his Korean voice, he'd get less teasing from the other kids. So I'm thinking about how to introduce that idea to him without seeming like I'm insulting him.
Weekend's here! Which means volunteering at the orphanage, lesson planning, and going to a board game cafe in Seoul! Next week shall be lovely.
----------------
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
4-10-14 Cloud Stories, Reasons For the Fight, and Disinfection
9:30 AM: It's a happy, idyllic morning at the office. No classes for the first two periods. Eating ghetto oatmeal (which is nurungji (scorched rice), reconstituted with boiled water, with a packet of almond tea added for flavor. Yeah, sounds weird but tastes approximately like a really hearty oatmeal).
I had to report my boys Yechan and Hyunseo for their fight yesterday. I told Mr. B the situation and he said he'd take care of it. I don't want them punished, I just want them to not do that again. And if there was a real issue between them, I don't want that to go unnoticed. Maybe it wasn't serious and one kid just broke another kid's ruler, but I saw how that emotionally wrecked Kyeongho during the first week of school.
My friend Amanda suggested that I observe a Korean teacher's class to see if they teach differently, and to get inspired for the 2nd-graders. I asked JY-Teacher if I could watch hers, but she wasn't really keen on it, plus she teaches 3rd, which is just going to be a bit different. When I told her that the kids weren't bad and that I was just searching for inspiration to engage them, she told me something helpful.
The 2nd-graders are on an experimental kind of semester where they don't have big tests. From what I understand, the boys don't have to prepare for midterms or semester finals, so they're even less inclined to do stuff. She said the Korean teachers have the same issue with the boys, so that helped me. I figure the non-interest situation is their natural condition and it's only exacerbated by the language barrier.
So. Continue trying, but focus less on classroom "success" and more on connecting with a few individuals.
And here are pictures of my boys' stories! First pictures are of the Reese's advertisements we did. I provided them with a lot of target vocabulary to use--I'm trying to teach them a lot of adjectives for describing things they see and taste. Commentary under the pictures, not over them.
Jiyoon finally drew somthing, after 6 weeks of steadfastly not doing work. It's a cloud mommy, giving birth to a cloud baby after a 12-month pregnancy.
2nd grade comics with Jeongkyo, who I'd never talked to before but who is quite pleasant,
And now there is some kind of bouncer situation at the office. Office Leader stands in the hall and only lets a few kids in at a time. Gyuchan hold his arm across the door, acting as a barrier for the kids. Maybe it's to keep the kids from swarming us during work hours, but I would welcome more company. C-Jeongmin just stood in the hall with 15 other students, staring into the office but not getting to come in. I'm not the only teacher he visits, but he does always stop by. Maybe the bouncer thing is only for the mornings? I hope it lets up in the afternoon.
-------------------------------------------------------
1:40 PM: Next classes went well. 1st-graders were lovely and I got to ask Hyunseo what the fight yesterday was about. Yechan had chucked a pencil case at his head, so Hyunseo retaliated. I believed it--Yechan is smart and talented, but very babyish in some ways. He's exactly the type to chuck a loaded pencil case at somebody's head with no thought for the fallout.
Between classes, I got chocolate from BY. BY. He's never given me anything ever.
3rd grade class was good, with clever comics from Jinseo, Gyuchan, Minhwe and A-Yoonseok. We had a nice time and they really made me laugh.
Jihoon from afterschool braved the scary hall full of big boys to come see me and get his chocolate from the other day.
After lunch, I went out walking with JY and SG1, then the Technology Teacher bought ice cream for us. And I walked back with the (young, single, cute) Geography Teacher, which was nice. He's got a decent amount of English, so we could discuss our teaching experience and our respective college majors pretty well. When we reached the gate, Jeongmin was waiting to pick me up for Lunchtime Games, so I walked along with my kid.
Jeongmin and I discussed my baby brother, who I said was adopted. Jeongmin said immediately that he wanted to adopt a child someday because he doesn't like the idea of making a baby. I wasn't sure what he meant exactly, and I was conflicted about how to answer, because human reproduction is not something you want to discuss with middle school boys ever in life. So I just said that children are great and adoption is wonderful.
At the games, I taught Eungyo the word "better" by using Korean. I have way more Korean than Eungyo has English, so I'm able to be his tutor. He thinks UNO is better than Monopoly.
Minchan saw me outside eating an apple and said that before the apple, my face was sad and after the apple, I looked cheerier. Cute observation.
-------------------------------------
9 PM: C-Jeongmin disinfected my hands today. I was sitting at my desk when he indicated that he wanted to give me handsoap. He put some on my hands, then led me over to the office sink so I could wash them. I did so, but I was so puzzled. Was this a commentary on my personal hygeine? Did he think my hands were dirty?
I asked JY-Teacher, and she laughed and said that it's just an indication of care and thoughtfulness. People sometimes clean/disinfect each other's hands--it was a sign that C-Jeongmin was thinking about my health. Dawww. I'd never heard that one before. In Korea, people will sometimes clean each other's ears with a Q-tip if their relationship is very close. It's not terribly common, but last month I saw a college-age couple doing this in a coffee shop.
Wooseok came by to talk with me, but again he's so afraid of English he won't hardly do it. When I asked how old he was he said in Korean that he didn't know, just so he wouldn't have to do it in English! I counted numbers on my fingers until we reached his age.
Dongmin came by for chocolate and he knew the question I was going to ask, the 'what did you do yesterday?' question. He told me in Korean, "Teacher, you know you already know what I did yesterday. So." I asked him a new question instead: "when did you wake up this morning?" I've been getting a jillion miles of conversation with my boys, and I love it. They come one after the other and sit down to talk.
HH and Jihyuk weren't in class today, and I missed them because without my favorites to talk with in the front row, I just have to stare at Jeongsu and Jiwoong and Gimin being nuts in the back row. I ended up just moving Gimin to the front to cut down on nonsense. We had an okay class though, and I got to reward Cheolho's big brother Suho for his good art.
Poor SG2 looks so tired. Tired-er than me. It reminds me that I really don't have things so bad after all. She's a grand person and I want to pray for her more.
My tutoring session went longer tonight. My tutor wanted to do more with me because it was "fun". Working with me with language is fun! For another person! EEEEEE! She suggested that we up our sessions to an hour and a half, and by now, we can totally do that. We have enough to learn and to talk about that we can do it. I'm beyond jazzed about this, I'm ecstatic. What a blessing to be learning and to be a blessing to someone else.
---------------------------------------------------
I had to report my boys Yechan and Hyunseo for their fight yesterday. I told Mr. B the situation and he said he'd take care of it. I don't want them punished, I just want them to not do that again. And if there was a real issue between them, I don't want that to go unnoticed. Maybe it wasn't serious and one kid just broke another kid's ruler, but I saw how that emotionally wrecked Kyeongho during the first week of school.
My friend Amanda suggested that I observe a Korean teacher's class to see if they teach differently, and to get inspired for the 2nd-graders. I asked JY-Teacher if I could watch hers, but she wasn't really keen on it, plus she teaches 3rd, which is just going to be a bit different. When I told her that the kids weren't bad and that I was just searching for inspiration to engage them, she told me something helpful.
The 2nd-graders are on an experimental kind of semester where they don't have big tests. From what I understand, the boys don't have to prepare for midterms or semester finals, so they're even less inclined to do stuff. She said the Korean teachers have the same issue with the boys, so that helped me. I figure the non-interest situation is their natural condition and it's only exacerbated by the language barrier.
So. Continue trying, but focus less on classroom "success" and more on connecting with a few individuals.
And here are pictures of my boys' stories! First pictures are of the Reese's advertisements we did. I provided them with a lot of target vocabulary to use--I'm trying to teach them a lot of adjectives for describing things they see and taste. Commentary under the pictures, not over them.
Hyunseo looked at advertisements on Google and drew the Reese's package.
Daehyun drew a cake on his advertisement.
I told my darling Cheolho that I thought he could do better on his advertisement because it was just okay, but he was a genius. (I rarely push my Korean students the way I did my American students. But I sensed that Cheolho would take it in the right spirit and rise to the occasion.) He went back and improved his advertisement with the addition of robot bears. Sweet. Robo-bears would sell the product to me, definitely.
Now we come to the "Cloud Stories" from Tuesday, wherein Yechan explains rain as originating from a sky-dragon. Twist ending: it's not really rain.
Again, Hyungkeun shocks and awes with his ability to craft a beautiful story, and one with a moral, no less! The dark cloud envies the bright cloud's beauty and popularity, while the bright cloud envies the dark cloud's practical ability to create rain. Moral? Both clouds are valuable and we need both for a balanced world. DUDE.
Cheolho being artsy and imaginative, like he does.
Changho hid this drawing from the prying eyes of a dozen other students, in order to deliver it to me. Clouds and I are lovely in a similar manner, it seems.
Jaehoon discusses his friend "Loud" and how Loud fell to C-ban in school, leading to the nickname "C-Loud" or "cloud". I was flabbergasted at the creative usage of the word "cloud".
Jiyoon finally drew somthing, after 6 weeks of steadfastly not doing work. It's a cloud mommy, giving birth to a cloud baby after a 12-month pregnancy.
Glasses-Seongmin, showing off his comics skills.
Tan-Seongmin's work.
Jihoon, my only B-class, putting forth a big effort on his story.
2nd-grade comics with Jiwon, who wins points for cuteness.
2nd-grade comics with Yooseok, who wins for most disturbing comic.
2nd-grade comics with Myeongbae, who wins for most informative. He came up with 6 separate solutions for sleepiness.
2nd grade comics with Jeongkyo, who I'd never talked to before but who is quite pleasant,
And now there is some kind of bouncer situation at the office. Office Leader stands in the hall and only lets a few kids in at a time. Gyuchan hold his arm across the door, acting as a barrier for the kids. Maybe it's to keep the kids from swarming us during work hours, but I would welcome more company. C-Jeongmin just stood in the hall with 15 other students, staring into the office but not getting to come in. I'm not the only teacher he visits, but he does always stop by. Maybe the bouncer thing is only for the mornings? I hope it lets up in the afternoon.
-------------------------------------------------------
1:40 PM: Next classes went well. 1st-graders were lovely and I got to ask Hyunseo what the fight yesterday was about. Yechan had chucked a pencil case at his head, so Hyunseo retaliated. I believed it--Yechan is smart and talented, but very babyish in some ways. He's exactly the type to chuck a loaded pencil case at somebody's head with no thought for the fallout.
Between classes, I got chocolate from BY. BY. He's never given me anything ever.
3rd grade class was good, with clever comics from Jinseo, Gyuchan, Minhwe and A-Yoonseok. We had a nice time and they really made me laugh.
Jihoon from afterschool braved the scary hall full of big boys to come see me and get his chocolate from the other day.
After lunch, I went out walking with JY and SG1, then the Technology Teacher bought ice cream for us. And I walked back with the (young, single, cute) Geography Teacher, which was nice. He's got a decent amount of English, so we could discuss our teaching experience and our respective college majors pretty well. When we reached the gate, Jeongmin was waiting to pick me up for Lunchtime Games, so I walked along with my kid.
Jeongmin and I discussed my baby brother, who I said was adopted. Jeongmin said immediately that he wanted to adopt a child someday because he doesn't like the idea of making a baby. I wasn't sure what he meant exactly, and I was conflicted about how to answer, because human reproduction is not something you want to discuss with middle school boys ever in life. So I just said that children are great and adoption is wonderful.
At the games, I taught Eungyo the word "better" by using Korean. I have way more Korean than Eungyo has English, so I'm able to be his tutor. He thinks UNO is better than Monopoly.
Minchan saw me outside eating an apple and said that before the apple, my face was sad and after the apple, I looked cheerier. Cute observation.
-------------------------------------
9 PM: C-Jeongmin disinfected my hands today. I was sitting at my desk when he indicated that he wanted to give me handsoap. He put some on my hands, then led me over to the office sink so I could wash them. I did so, but I was so puzzled. Was this a commentary on my personal hygeine? Did he think my hands were dirty?
I asked JY-Teacher, and she laughed and said that it's just an indication of care and thoughtfulness. People sometimes clean/disinfect each other's hands--it was a sign that C-Jeongmin was thinking about my health. Dawww. I'd never heard that one before. In Korea, people will sometimes clean each other's ears with a Q-tip if their relationship is very close. It's not terribly common, but last month I saw a college-age couple doing this in a coffee shop.
Wooseok came by to talk with me, but again he's so afraid of English he won't hardly do it. When I asked how old he was he said in Korean that he didn't know, just so he wouldn't have to do it in English! I counted numbers on my fingers until we reached his age.
Dongmin came by for chocolate and he knew the question I was going to ask, the 'what did you do yesterday?' question. He told me in Korean, "Teacher, you know you already know what I did yesterday. So." I asked him a new question instead: "when did you wake up this morning?" I've been getting a jillion miles of conversation with my boys, and I love it. They come one after the other and sit down to talk.
HH and Jihyuk weren't in class today, and I missed them because without my favorites to talk with in the front row, I just have to stare at Jeongsu and Jiwoong and Gimin being nuts in the back row. I ended up just moving Gimin to the front to cut down on nonsense. We had an okay class though, and I got to reward Cheolho's big brother Suho for his good art.
Poor SG2 looks so tired. Tired-er than me. It reminds me that I really don't have things so bad after all. She's a grand person and I want to pray for her more.
My tutoring session went longer tonight. My tutor wanted to do more with me because it was "fun". Working with me with language is fun! For another person! EEEEEE! She suggested that we up our sessions to an hour and a half, and by now, we can totally do that. We have enough to learn and to talk about that we can do it. I'm beyond jazzed about this, I'm ecstatic. What a blessing to be learning and to be a blessing to someone else.
---------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
4-9-14 Letting Go, Breaking Up a Fight, and Seeing Hyunkyeong
11 AM: In which I again resolve to stop worrying.
First two classes were not horrible. The kids didn't mutiny, but they didn't listen and didn't learn and if I let myself, I could be an emotional basketcase over it yet again.
I'm so prideful and paranoid about these things. I try hard and do a lousy job at explaining things to the grade-2's, so they sit in their seats and do nothing at all. And I adore the kids so much, so I go one-on-one with them and we have a great time talking and working. But I fail, fail, fail at leading the class as a unit, while for 1st and 3rd grade I can lead a class.
And I don't think my co-teachers judge me, but in my head I picture them thinking how talentless and ineffective I am. Projecting my own thoughts about myself onto others. Because I really want respect. I want to be good at my work. Today I finally asked NG-Teacher if he had any ideas about how to make the 2nd lesson longer, or improve it. He didn't have any thoughts offhand, but I did finally let my pride go in order to ask for advice.
Anyways. Letting it go. The kids love me, and I love them. God loves all of us. I keep coming back to that.
In my second class, I sat and played an English word game with Sleepy Moonshik, who I adore. I told him to come by for candy later, and he did. He's my sweet little guy and it makes me happy to do nice things for him. I watched Soonhyuk be awesome at art and I praised him for his work. I listened to Mingyu answer a million questions and saw Taehyun smile. Good things did happen.
C-Jeongmin came by to give me a chocolate macaroon in a wrapper, secretly so the other kids wouldn't see what he was doing. Hyogwon came by to talk, too.
It is a good day. It will continue to be a good day. It will!
--------------------------------------------------
2:30 PM Well, for 2-9, 2-1-, 2-11, only six students out of 30 paid any attention whatsoever, but we were all right.
I decided to only care about the boys I was talking with at the moment. Don't think about the room, don't think about anything but making Myeongbae feel special or appreciating Jiwon's cute art or puffing up Heekyu's already overinflated baby-ego.
That part was successful. I'm fairly unstressed right now because it's over. I didn't get mad during class, because I had no expectations for solid participation. I think I can continue to be chill like this. Step 1: Prepare the lesson with their best interests in mind. Step 2: Chill in class. Step 3: Love and adore the ones who I cross my path.
Afro-Jiwoong and Myeongbae are fast becoming serious favorites of mine. They always do the work and so always come to see me after class for candy. I make Jiwoong talk more, so we're getting a closer relationship just from sheer amount of exchanged sentences.
Yooseok and Taegeom did well, and Heekyu made me laugh out loud several times. Tiny Joohyun did his work and followed me downstairs for candy even when I hadn't signed his paper, just because he assumed I would. He was right.
Weeeeeee! Tomorrow is Thursday! Thursday is for smart, savvy 3rd-graders! And for squishy-cutie 1st-graders!
1st-graders who getting increasingly touchy. Somebody from Monday told the Wednesday boys that I sometimes give hugs. When they all left, I told them they were all getting high fives. Giseok said, "Teacher, not high five! A hug!" And he followed through by opening his arms when he left class. But I didn't hug him because Giseok is one of the rare 1st-graders who looks much older. He's just slightly too close to grown, I think.
And Giseok also loves me rather a lot. The boys in the front row were arguing over who didn't have a speaking partner, because the spare kid would get to talk with me. Minjin on the end won, and Giseok was in agonies over the missed opportunity. Like writhing-in-chair, beating-the-desk agonies. My co-teacher told me that Minjin had "won" me at rock-paper-scissors. The lengths they will go to for extra teacher-time are shocking.
Ah, my little ones. They are just super in all ways.
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6 PM: Students made me cry again, and it wasn't who you'd expect.
It was my little 1st-graders. My afterschool was going well. We were eating Reese's and writing commercial advertisements for Reese's when Yechan and CoolGuy Hyunseo broke into a fight.
A real fight. They were trying to hurt each other. Most mini-fights play out in 5 seconds before the participants get bored. After half a minutes, they weren't stopping, and Yechan finally got a chokehold on Hyunseo and was cutting off his air.
I yelled for them to stop and they didn't. I walked over and yelled in Korean--no response. Finally I physically pulled them apart and stood between them while everybody breathed and gathered their wits. I didn't realize that I'd gravitated toward one kid, but I was human-shielding Hyunseo, who is just an extra measure more dear to my heart. In that moment, I was his big sister, protecting him from harm while still viewing the other student as just another misguided kid, not an enemy.
I tried to think of what I should do next. Take them out in the hall? No. They're too far gone to understand a lecture. I just made them sit down separately. I tried to find Mr. B to report the incident and get to the bottom of it--I have no idea why my boys were suddenly at each other's throats, I just know that I've only ever seen anger of that caliber one other time, last year.
I stood in front of the class, calm and tired. I felt like I'd lived through a small storm. There were still five minutes of class left, so I told the guys they could all get an extra Reese's (they'd all already had two or three apiece) if they beat me at arm wrestling. They clearly had too much energy built up.
It was surprising how many of them won for real. Jaehoon won after much effort. Wonhye won immediately. Stalemate with Seongmin, lost to Jiyoon. JIYOON, for crying out loud. He's the size of a 9-year-old, but tenacious as a leopard. It worked. They were laughing and happy and chatty, speculating on who was stronger. And what it really amounts to is a chance to hold hands, which is what they're usually hoping for anyway. It was cute.
When they left, I felt so tired though. Physically tired from playing at arm-wrestling with darling kids (who should not be stronger as me but inexplicably are) and emotionally tired from watching the babies fight. Because it hurts. To see them hurt, to see them making bad decisions and trying to inflict pain on others, it's more draining than you might think.
But now I'm going to dinner with my buddy and I'm happy. :-)
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8 PM: Post-dinner, I feel better. I can be totally chill with the 2nd-graders now, I think.
Tonight I ran into so many of my former boys. One of them, Sunmoon (yes, his actual name is Sun/Moon) was in the Baskin Robbins tonight. He pointed me out to his friends and I pretended not to see it, then I caught his eye later and we waved. His friends were much impressed.
Then me and my friend walked past the arcade, one of my former students greeted me with the kind of heartfelt enthusiasm reserved for lost relatives or religious leaders. For a second, I didn't recognize this tall boy, but now I know he was Sunhong, the one I saved from bullying one day in class. He was speechless, but he kept trying to say something and kept touching my arm like he really wanted to let me know he cared. I patted his arm and smiled, told him it was good to see him.
Then immediately afterward, I saw America-Hyunkyeong and one of the Big C-class kids from last year ( I mentally call him Osong, since I ran into him in the town of Osong, but that's not his real name). They were chilling in front of the arcade and I gave them fistbumps and "hey what's up?"s. It was so good to see them. I freaked my friend out, though--she thought I was greeting random hooligans. I had to explain to her that they used to be my kids. They only look like college students--just two months ago, they were entrenched at my middle school, eating chips and throwing shoes at each other.
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First two classes were not horrible. The kids didn't mutiny, but they didn't listen and didn't learn and if I let myself, I could be an emotional basketcase over it yet again.
I'm so prideful and paranoid about these things. I try hard and do a lousy job at explaining things to the grade-2's, so they sit in their seats and do nothing at all. And I adore the kids so much, so I go one-on-one with them and we have a great time talking and working. But I fail, fail, fail at leading the class as a unit, while for 1st and 3rd grade I can lead a class.
And I don't think my co-teachers judge me, but in my head I picture them thinking how talentless and ineffective I am. Projecting my own thoughts about myself onto others. Because I really want respect. I want to be good at my work. Today I finally asked NG-Teacher if he had any ideas about how to make the 2nd lesson longer, or improve it. He didn't have any thoughts offhand, but I did finally let my pride go in order to ask for advice.
Anyways. Letting it go. The kids love me, and I love them. God loves all of us. I keep coming back to that.
In my second class, I sat and played an English word game with Sleepy Moonshik, who I adore. I told him to come by for candy later, and he did. He's my sweet little guy and it makes me happy to do nice things for him. I watched Soonhyuk be awesome at art and I praised him for his work. I listened to Mingyu answer a million questions and saw Taehyun smile. Good things did happen.
C-Jeongmin came by to give me a chocolate macaroon in a wrapper, secretly so the other kids wouldn't see what he was doing. Hyogwon came by to talk, too.
It is a good day. It will continue to be a good day. It will!
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2:30 PM Well, for 2-9, 2-1-, 2-11, only six students out of 30 paid any attention whatsoever, but we were all right.
I decided to only care about the boys I was talking with at the moment. Don't think about the room, don't think about anything but making Myeongbae feel special or appreciating Jiwon's cute art or puffing up Heekyu's already overinflated baby-ego.
That part was successful. I'm fairly unstressed right now because it's over. I didn't get mad during class, because I had no expectations for solid participation. I think I can continue to be chill like this. Step 1: Prepare the lesson with their best interests in mind. Step 2: Chill in class. Step 3: Love and adore the ones who I cross my path.
Afro-Jiwoong and Myeongbae are fast becoming serious favorites of mine. They always do the work and so always come to see me after class for candy. I make Jiwoong talk more, so we're getting a closer relationship just from sheer amount of exchanged sentences.
Yooseok and Taegeom did well, and Heekyu made me laugh out loud several times. Tiny Joohyun did his work and followed me downstairs for candy even when I hadn't signed his paper, just because he assumed I would. He was right.
Weeeeeee! Tomorrow is Thursday! Thursday is for smart, savvy 3rd-graders! And for squishy-cutie 1st-graders!
1st-graders who getting increasingly touchy. Somebody from Monday told the Wednesday boys that I sometimes give hugs. When they all left, I told them they were all getting high fives. Giseok said, "Teacher, not high five! A hug!" And he followed through by opening his arms when he left class. But I didn't hug him because Giseok is one of the rare 1st-graders who looks much older. He's just slightly too close to grown, I think.
And Giseok also loves me rather a lot. The boys in the front row were arguing over who didn't have a speaking partner, because the spare kid would get to talk with me. Minjin on the end won, and Giseok was in agonies over the missed opportunity. Like writhing-in-chair, beating-the-desk agonies. My co-teacher told me that Minjin had "won" me at rock-paper-scissors. The lengths they will go to for extra teacher-time are shocking.
Ah, my little ones. They are just super in all ways.
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6 PM: Students made me cry again, and it wasn't who you'd expect.
It was my little 1st-graders. My afterschool was going well. We were eating Reese's and writing commercial advertisements for Reese's when Yechan and CoolGuy Hyunseo broke into a fight.
A real fight. They were trying to hurt each other. Most mini-fights play out in 5 seconds before the participants get bored. After half a minutes, they weren't stopping, and Yechan finally got a chokehold on Hyunseo and was cutting off his air.
I yelled for them to stop and they didn't. I walked over and yelled in Korean--no response. Finally I physically pulled them apart and stood between them while everybody breathed and gathered their wits. I didn't realize that I'd gravitated toward one kid, but I was human-shielding Hyunseo, who is just an extra measure more dear to my heart. In that moment, I was his big sister, protecting him from harm while still viewing the other student as just another misguided kid, not an enemy.
I tried to think of what I should do next. Take them out in the hall? No. They're too far gone to understand a lecture. I just made them sit down separately. I tried to find Mr. B to report the incident and get to the bottom of it--I have no idea why my boys were suddenly at each other's throats, I just know that I've only ever seen anger of that caliber one other time, last year.
I stood in front of the class, calm and tired. I felt like I'd lived through a small storm. There were still five minutes of class left, so I told the guys they could all get an extra Reese's (they'd all already had two or three apiece) if they beat me at arm wrestling. They clearly had too much energy built up.
It was surprising how many of them won for real. Jaehoon won after much effort. Wonhye won immediately. Stalemate with Seongmin, lost to Jiyoon. JIYOON, for crying out loud. He's the size of a 9-year-old, but tenacious as a leopard. It worked. They were laughing and happy and chatty, speculating on who was stronger. And what it really amounts to is a chance to hold hands, which is what they're usually hoping for anyway. It was cute.
When they left, I felt so tired though. Physically tired from playing at arm-wrestling with darling kids (who should not be stronger as me but inexplicably are) and emotionally tired from watching the babies fight. Because it hurts. To see them hurt, to see them making bad decisions and trying to inflict pain on others, it's more draining than you might think.
But now I'm going to dinner with my buddy and I'm happy. :-)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
8 PM: Post-dinner, I feel better. I can be totally chill with the 2nd-graders now, I think.
Tonight I ran into so many of my former boys. One of them, Sunmoon (yes, his actual name is Sun/Moon) was in the Baskin Robbins tonight. He pointed me out to his friends and I pretended not to see it, then I caught his eye later and we waved. His friends were much impressed.
Then me and my friend walked past the arcade, one of my former students greeted me with the kind of heartfelt enthusiasm reserved for lost relatives or religious leaders. For a second, I didn't recognize this tall boy, but now I know he was Sunhong, the one I saved from bullying one day in class. He was speechless, but he kept trying to say something and kept touching my arm like he really wanted to let me know he cared. I patted his arm and smiled, told him it was good to see him.
Then immediately afterward, I saw America-Hyunkyeong and one of the Big C-class kids from last year ( I mentally call him Osong, since I ran into him in the town of Osong, but that's not his real name). They were chilling in front of the arcade and I gave them fistbumps and "hey what's up?"s. It was so good to see them. I freaked my friend out, though--she thought I was greeting random hooligans. I had to explain to her that they used to be my kids. They only look like college students--just two months ago, they were entrenched at my middle school, eating chips and throwing shoes at each other.
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